Two From Softball Named All-Americans

Two From Softball Named All-Americans

May 23, 2001

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Two California Golden Bears were named to the 2001 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Louisville Slugger All-American team that was announced this evening at the annual Women's College World Series banquet in Oklahoma City, Okla. Sophomore first baseman Veronica Nelson was awarded first-team at-larger (first base) honors while junior pitcher Jocelyn Forest was named to the second team.

Nelson, who was also awarded first-team All-Pac-10 and second-team All-Pacific Region, leads the Bears in many offensive categories - batting average (.352), RBI (50), home runs (18) and slugging percentage (.772). In addition to her offensive prowess, Nelson also broke her own NCAA single-season walk record last Sunday versus the Florida State Seminoles in the regional championship, when she drew a walk for the 88th time, breaking her old record of 87 in 2000. Nelson is the first Cal player since Gillian Boxx (1992-1995) and Michele Granger (1989-1993) earned first-team honors in 1993.

Forest, who was also named to the first-team All-Pac-10 and second-team All-Pacific Region, led the Cal pitching staff with a 27-8 record, 0.72 ERA and a conference-best 350 strikeouts. Her ERA is the lowest of any Bear pitcher since Granger recorded a 0.50 ERA in 1993.

Cal, the eighth seed in the WCWS, begins play tomorrow, May 24, at 8 a.m. PDT, when it takes on the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.

Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I First Team All-Americans
Pitcher - Jennie Finch           Arizona         Jr.    La Mirada, CA
Pitcher - Britni Sneed           LSU             Jr.    Houston, TX
Pitcher - Dana Sorensen          Stanford        Soph.  San Diego, CA
Catcher - Stacey Nuveman         UCLA            Jr.    La Verne, CA
First Base - Sarah Beeson        Stanford        Jr.    Tucson, AZ
Second Base - Kelsey Kollen      Michigan        Jr.    Cerritos, CA
Third Base - Toni Mascarenas     Arizona         Sr     Gardeen Grove, CA
Shortstop - Natasha Watley       UCLA            Soph.  Irvine, CA
Outfield - Kelly Kretschman      Alabama         Sr.    Indian Harbour, FL
Outfield - Oli Keohohou,         Brigham Young   Fr.    Newbeury Park, CA
Outfield - Lauren Bauer          Arizona         Sr.    Santa Ana, CA
Utility - Kellie Wilkerson       Mississippi St. Jr.    Jacksonville, FL
Des. Player - Leneah Manuma      Arizona         Fr.    San Diego, CA
At-Large (SS) - Kelli Braitsch   Oklahoma        Soph.  Broken Arrow, OK
At-Large (P) - Kristi Hanks      Iowa            Jr.    Santa Fe, TX
At-Large (OF) - Jessica Mendoza  Stanford        Jr.    Camarillo,
At-Large (1B) - Veronica Nelson  California      Soph.  Oakland, CA
At-Large (C) - Jenny Topping     Cal State Fullerton Soph.  Whittier, CA

Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Second Team All-Americans Pitcher - Jocelyn Forest California Jr. Santa Maria, CA Pitcher - Shelley Laird Alabama Jr Spring, TX Pitcher - Nicole Myers Florida Atlantic Jr. St. Petersburg, FL Catcher - Ashli Barrett Oklahoma Sr. Oklahoma City, OK First Base - Lisa Carey Oklahoma Sr. Topeka, KS Second Base - Keisha Shepperson East Carolina Sr. Richmond, VA Third Base - Tairia Mims UCLA Soph. Tucson, AZ Shortstop - Alana Addison La.-Lafayette Jr. Gonzales, LA) Outfield - Sara Carlson Villanova Soph. Langley, BC, Canada Outfield - Jackie McClain Alabama Fr. Soddy Daisy, TN Outfield - Melissa Michigan Sr. Petersburg, MI Utility - Sarah Martz DePaul Fr. Lanark, IL Des. Player - Kristin Dennis Virginia Jr. Encinitas, CA At-Large (UT) - Amanda Freed UCLA Jr. Cypress, CA At-Large (OF) - Ashley Moore Auburn Jr. Birmingham, AL At-Large (P) - Amanda Renfro Texas Tech Sr. Houston, TX At-Large (P) - Kristin Schmidt Notre Dame Fr. Houston, TX At-Large (OF) - Karen Williams Missouri Sr. Gaylord, MI)

Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Third Team All-Americans Pitcher - Tia Bollinger Washington Fr. Santa Ana, CA Pitcher - Jessica Chase SW Texas State Jr. West Palm Beach, FL Pitcher - Leslie Malerich Florida State Jr. Marriville, IN Catcher - Stefanie Christoferson Illinois-Chicago Sr. Santa Barbara, CA First Base - Alicia Gerlach Iowa Jr. East Moline, IL Second Base - Suzanne Olcott Alabama Jr. Birmingham, AL Third Base - Becky McMurtry Illinois State Soph. North Platte, NE Shortstop - Jaime Clark Washington Soph. Tustin, CA Outfield - Deanna Dovak Rider Jr. Oakdale, NY Outfield - Kelly Hauxhurst Washington Sr. Westminster, CA Outfield - Jenny Kriech Notre Dame Jr. Indianapolis, IN Utility - Erin Stremsterfer Southern Illinois Sr. Manchester, MO Des. Player - Melanie Fisher Missouri Soph. St. Louis, MO At-Large (P) - Cindy Ball Pacific Jr. Camarillo, At-Large (OF) - Nicole Giordano Arizona Sr. Saugus, CA At-Large (C) - Jarrah Myers Notre Dame Jr. Carbondale, KS At-Large (SS)- Marci Ridenbaugh Kent State Fr. Canton, OH At-Large (P) - Jennifer Sharron Notre Dame Sr. Agoura Hills, CA At-large (P) - Jennifer Stewart Oklahoma Jr. Yukon, OK